JLO - American Idol

Jennifer Lopez was shaking her booty before some of todays pop stars were even born, and yet, thanks to her formidable work ethic, this last year has been her busiest yet. No, never underestimate the power of J Lo. Even when shes in her PJs

- Yael Kohen, photos by Joe Pugliese

It’s the end of a long day, the sun is setting and Jennifer Lopez is coming down the hallway of her giant Manhattan apartment in oversized grey sweats from Victoria’s Secret and a white T-shirt. She is also barefoot. The image is a little jarring at first because I’d expected – at the very least – heels (Louboutins, naturally), and also her laid-back casualness contrasts so sharply with her superstar image and the haute design of her cavernous living room. In there, she has three creamy white sofas and a chaise, with warm wood coffee tables and earthy-tone blue and purple throw pillows placed neatly about. Then there’s the much more glitzy accents: crystal chandelier-like floor lamps and a fur throw. The room itself is the combination of zen and flash I’d always associated with her. Until I met this pyjama-clad version, anyway.

At first I think maybe she’s trying to project the image that she’s just like the rest of us (you know, ‘Jenny From The Block’). But as we settle in on her balcony, surrounded by luscious greenery, I get the sense that Lopez really does just want to curl up in front of the TV, finish binge-watching House Of Cards, then fall asleep. ‘This is probably the busiest year of my life, ever,’ she says, and I believe her. Today, for instance, she’s just come off a nine-hour shoot for her new US TV series, Shades Of Blue, which she is also executive producing. That’s on top of her other duties, which include overseeing a £160 million clothing and perfume empire, spokes-modelling for cosmetics giant L’Oréal, gearing up to judge the final season of American